Shape

Shape BASEPLATE C500 Mark II Cage Kit Follow Focus Matte Box

Take full production control of your Canon C500 Mark II — Shape's all-in-one rig kit delivers shoulder-mount stability, follow focus precision, and matte box light control in one modular system.

$2,815.12*
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*Price sourced from Amazon.com. Last updated:Jul 14, 2026.Price and availability are subject to change.

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Overview

The Shape BASEPLATE kit is purpose-designed for cinematographers who need to take the Canon C500 Mark II or C300 Mark III from a cinema-body to a fully capable production rig. Whether you're building for shoulder-mount documentary work, narrative production, or interview setups where precise focus pulls and controlled flares matter, this kit provides the structural foundation and the key functional tools in a single purchase. The form-fitted cage means the camera sits correctly from the first bolt — no shimming, no improvising — and the alignment to the C500 Mark II's optical center makes shoulder balance feel natural rather than front-heavy.

The construction is CNC-machined aluminum throughout, which keeps tolerances tight even after repeated assembly cycles on location. The Arri rosette mounts on the cage and baseplate are load-bearing, designed for the kind of daily handle abuse that production work demands. The modular architecture is genuinely useful in practice — you can strip back to cage-only for gimbal work, build up to full shoulder configuration for run-and-gun, or configure for sticks with the tripod-ready baseplate. The included Follow Focus Pro engages cleanly on 15mm rods, and the 4x5.6 matte box handles standard filter sets for controlled shooting environments.

Specifications

Compatible Cameras
Canon C500 Mark II, Canon C300 Mark III
Material
CNC Aluminum
Rod System
15mm
Rosette Standard
Arri Rosettes (2 pairs)
Mounting Options
Tripod or Shoulder Mount
Matte Box Size
4x5.6
Included Accessories
Cage, shoulder baseplate, modular top handle, left handle, 15mm rods, top plate with rod bloc, viewfinder clamp, Follow Focus Pro, 4x5.6 Matte Box

Pros & Cons

👍 Pros

  • The purpose-built cage fit eliminates the rattling and shimming typical of universal rigs, keeping the C500 Mark II locked down solidly for shoulder work or sticks.
  • Two pairs of Arri rosettes across the cage and baseplate give you genuine load-bearing handle attachment — not just cosmetic rosette cutouts — for sustained shoulder-mount shooting comfort.
  • The included Follow Focus Pro and 4x5.6 matte box make this a complete production package rather than a starting point, eliminating the need to source compatible components separately.
  • The 15mm rod system ensures broad third-party accessory compatibility, so you can add lens supports, filters, or a wireless follow focus without re-rigging the base.
  • CNC aluminum construction keeps the entire rig rigid under the weight of cinema lenses without flex that would show up as micro-shake in critical focus shots.

👎 Cons

  • The full kit assembled — cage, baseplate, rods, handles, matte box, and follow focus — represents significant added weight on top of an already substantial C500 Mark II body, which becomes noticeable on long documentary or event days.
  • The matte box is sized for 4x5.6 filters, which limits compatibility with some smaller filter systems; photographers with an existing 4x4 filter inventory will need adapters.
  • The modular system's many components mean assembly and disassembly takes time — this is not a rig you want to be putting together under pressure at the start of a shoot day without practice.
  • Shoulder balance is optimized for the optical center of the C500 Mark II specifically, so adapting this baseplate to other camera bodies may require shim plates or custom riser solutions.

Frequently Asked Questions

It's purpose-built — the cage is form-fitted to the C500 Mark II and C300 Mark III body, with the shoulder baseplate aligned to the camera's optical center for balanced shoulder-mount operation.
The system runs on 15mm rods, the industry standard for cinema-style rigs. This means your existing 15mm follow focus units, matte boxes, and lens supports will drop straight in alongside the included components.
Yes — the modular design lets you use the cage independently with just the top handle and selected accessories, keeping weight down for handheld documentary work without dismantling the whole assembly.
The shoulder baseplate includes standard tripod attachment points and Arri rosettes, so you can transition between shoulder and sticks quickly without re-rigging the camera body.
Shape's Follow Focus Pro is compatible with standard 15mm rod setups and works with both cinema lenses (0.8 mod gear) and adapted DSLR glass — check your specific lens gear pitch before assuming direct engagement.